My Home Ideas

Special Offers

Be the first to know about This Old House contests, sweepstakes, and events and receive special offers and promotions from your favorite home improvement brands. We'll even send you regular reminders to enter our sweepstakes.

If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

4 Visitor Messages

I have read several of your responses concerning basement insulation and like what I read.....it just seems to make sense. I have a question for you about my particular situation if you don't mind. We have an unfinished basement that is partially underground with poured concrete walls and the walls step down to follow the outside grade. The above ground portions of the wall are obviously framed. We want to insulate and finish this space the "right" way regardless of price. Our main concern is of course preventing mold growth and then creating a warm comfortable space to live. Any advise you have would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately I can't see what exists so it's difficult to say what needs to be done or how it can be done. You may be able to get away with poking holes to run the cables or it may require to remove some sections --- depends if there is framing in the way.

As for the electrical this needs to be properly done and to code for legal and safety concerns.
One thing is to not run the signal ( audio / video ) next to the electrical line. Otherwise you can experience induced electrical noise in the signal paths of the a / v. Try to space them as far apart from each other as much as possible.

What I meant was, should I tear out drywall to run wires down within the wall, or should I go through the wall, run wires outside and then come back through the wall where the satellite wires currently enter the house? What I meant by "tie in" was splice the electrical, directly within the outlet box behind face plate, or just bring the wire in, with other wiring and plug it into the outlet like any other electrical device?

I see u have some knowledge re basements.
My problem is I have a 70 year old basement of poured concrete which was probably built with pit run gravel containg some shale and bagged cement. The past 10 years or so teh interior seems to be spaling off . Patches of various diameters and maybe 1/4 deep. This happens in area wher there is no water seeping through. It is like the concrete is just breaking down> Any suggestions as to how to coat it to stop this?
Thanks
[email]Wallacep@canada.com[/email]